Lions, magic, secret worlds, these are the words that pop into mind when the name of C.S. Lewis is mentioned. Many are familiar with his series The Chronicles of Narnia, but Lewis is also well known for his other fantasy books, as well as apologetic writings. However, as Mark Pike (2013) broaches in Mere Education: C.S. Lewis as Teacher for our Time, “…even fifty years after his death… the remarkable, some would say prophetic, insights he offered concerning the education and schooling of your people are not so well-known” (p. 9). Pike (2013) goes on to state that his purpose in composing this book is to take Lewis’ ideas on education, which are scattered throughout his literary work, and make them more straightforward and accessible to the …show more content…
At its heart, Mere Education provides perspective into how Lewis believed education, in its purest form, should appear. There can be a danger in interpreting the works of others, to take sentences out of context and attribute them generally to the author’s beliefs. However, Pike does an excellent job of complimenting his interpretations through ideas and themes that permeate Lewis’ work. At the outset of the book, Pike (2013) describes the Tao, or Lewis’ belief in the “innate and universal” law that “can provide the foundations for moral education” as described in his book The Abolition of Man (p. 18). Pike (2013) quotes Lewis directly from this text which describes how Lewis believes the Tao relates to education; Lewis states, “‘For …show more content…
Possibly the most obvious example of this would be found in the discussion questions at the end of each chapter. Through these, Pike has the reader think deeply about the content, while also incorporating examples for their own lives, and determining steps to take to live it out. Yet Pike also uses models from Lewis’ books, such as Ransom from the science fiction story, That Hideous Strength. Pike (2013) describes Ransom as a leader who has good “interpersonal skills”, and who is, “clear about his decision[s] and gives reasons for it” (p. 139). By taking themes from Lewis’, and illustrating these themes through characters, Pike is able to present a clear model for today’s educator. One who understands developing a moral character, who explains it to others, and who lives it out in their own life (Pike, 2013, p.
Books surrounded Lewis. Stone describes his house as filled with books, crowding bookcases, hallways, and rooms. Lewis had no limitation on what he could or could not read, although it quickly became evident that Jack preferred fantasy books such as Potter’s Peter Rabbit (Stone 4-5). After his mother died, Stone described what happened with Lewis’s schooling. Because Albert Lewis, C.S. Lewis’s father was afraid of financial ruin, he sent Jack and his brother to a cheap boarding school, Wynyard. At Wynyard the conditions were terrible and Lewis found no education (Stone 15, 19-20). Even though his childhood experiences were not the greatest Jack was still able to succeed in his
In this essay, Ralph Waldo Emerson describes his view of an ideal education. What are its defining characteristics?
The fictitious book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, published by HarperCollins Publishers, took place during the time of the air raids in 1940’s London. The author, C. S. Lewis poured his imagination out onto the pages of the novel. The land of Narnia became an adventurous place for Lucy, the youngest of the Pevensie siblings, Edmund, the antagonizing brother, Peter, the leader, and Susan, the kind child. A wardrobe found in their caretaker’s dwelling transported these children to a world full of amazing creatures. The Pevensie youths’ encounter with the wonderful world of Narnia, its inhabitants, and its rivaling rulers brings both the importance of loyalty and each child’s true character to light.
In the story, four English children move into a large old country house in the aftermath of evacuation after a war. The youngest of the four children pays visits to Narnia thrice through the magic of wardrobe from a spare room. On her third visit, all the four children are together, and this verifies her fantastic claims and includes the chapters 12-17.in Narnia, the siblings fulfill an old prophecy, and they are soon adventuring for saving their lives and Narnia. In the novel version of the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Lewis uses development, morality and symbolism. This paper discusses the differences in morals between the novel and movie version of the chronicles of Narnia. Lewis uses morality as a means of rallying the reader behind a character and inspiring them to continue supporting them through the
For even when man talks of intrinsic values and emotions, there is validity in these things simply because they are experienced by someone. To say these things have been experienced gives them substance, whether they can be perceived by the senses or not. It seems as though Lewis is arguing that because the Tao is a qualitative substance inherent to man, to strip that would be the reduction of him into nothing.
In all forms, education should simply be the art of the utilization of knowledge and the vehicle to impart a sense of the power of ideas to a future generation.
The foundation of my philosophy begins with defining schooling and education. Schooling is the basis of acquired knowledge and skills that shapes one’s mind. Schooling has the focus of content and is essentially used to get you where you need to be. Moreover, education is a life-long process of applying knowledge to the real world. It is the process of learning and improving yourself. Figuratively, schooling is
There are several different concepts surrounding the topic of education but most problematic is in regards to the aims of education within society. With several aims proposed by educational philosophers there is confusion surrounding what education is for and which type of education best suits the individual. Lewis (2015) posed that education promotes student learning and potential as well as fostering of community and self esteem within a school environment. Overall education is the defining product of good citizens in contemporary society, with diverse cultures, social norms and political standpoints. Liberal, vocational and wellbeing education will be discussed throughout arguing that a combined approach to education is most relevant within modern society. The ethical obligations for teachers within education will also be discussed.
Education at its best is a process of teaching people to explore ideas about themselves and the world in which they live, to ask questions about the experience called “living” and to embrace ambiguity, to notice the unusual without fear and to look upon the ordinary with new eyes.
Education is a very important part of society. I feel that it should teach children how to function in a society, and learn the basics they will need to expand on for the rest of their life. I feel that it is used to teach moral, and ethical standards of living. The schools are used to help the children learn to function in life, and achieve the goals of their choosing. Education is important because without it I firmly believe that society would be a very savage institution. With the things that we teach in today’s schools we give the power to know the basics such as reading, writing, and math but we also give them the ability to function in a society. As a teacher I hope to set my student of fire. I want to see them come alive with a desire to want everything that is out there for them. I want to be able to make a difference in just one person’s life. If I can do this I would feel I have done what I am supposed to do. I want my students to know the world is theirs to take and do with it whatever they may choose.
Lewis may be suggesting that explorations of metaphysical and spiritual subjects (the Narnias' of our own world) are best suited to open, impartial minds. Second, the obscurity of Narnia's entrance suggests that such journeys cannot be sought out or forced, but rather will present themselves at places and times we least expect. Finally, the use of an ordinary wardrobe as the portal to Narnia makes Lewis's readers consider what fantastic journeys physical or otherwise may lay within the ordinariness of everyday existence.
Aristotle said, “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” What does it really mean to be educated? Many people thought that they knew what education meant, even I felt confident in myself to define education. However, the ideas discussed in class really made me question my definition of education. My definition has changed within the past few weeks as I discovered more about education. I am here to present my definition of education; with the lack of resources, one can still become educated by learning the unknown and putting your knowledge to good use.
As Daniel J. Boorstin said, “Education is learning what you didn 't even know you didn 't know.”
Education is not just the amount of information that is put into a child’s brain undigested, unrelated an unassimilated. The very essence of education is the concentration of mind and
Education is very essential in life no matter what age you are. Every day is a new learning experience, and the possibilities are endless. We are all different people with different mindsets and life experiences. But, we do not need traditional schooling to further our experiences in education. We all can learn various things that schooling will not be able to teach.